2019 – Moud is an out homosexual teen dwelling in Los Angeles together with his distant father, Saeed. When Moud will get the information that his grandfather in Iran is dying, he accompanies his dad to Tehran, the place the revelation of household secrets and techniques will pressure Moud into a brand new understanding of his historical past, his tradition, and himself.
1978 – Saeed is an engineering scholar with a promising future forward of him in Tehran. However when his mother and father uncover his involvement within the nation’s burgeoning revolution, they ship him to security in America, a rustic Saeed despises. And even worse – he’s compelled to stay with the American grandmother he by no means knew existed.
1939 – Bobby, the son of a calculating Hollywood stage mom, lands a coveted MGM studio contract. However the fairy-tale world of glamour he’s thrust into has a darkish facet…Set in opposition to the backdrop of Tehran and Los Angeles, this story of intergenerational trauma and love is an ode to the delicate bonds of household, the hidden secrets and techniques of historical past and all the attractive moments that make us who we’re at this time.
Abdi Nazemian has received quite a few awards for his writing in America however that is the primary of his books to be revealed within the UK, so when Little Tiger provided me a assessment copy I assumed it might be value giving it a go! The story is heartbreaking and soul-mending all on the identical time, as intergenerational relationships are shattered, brazenly mentioned, and repaired. I discovered Saeed’s story the toughest to learn, stuffed with emotional intestine punches, however all of them have moments of happiness and unhappiness (and realisations about how unfair the world is). It’s a considerate and thought frightening have a look at how badly “strange folks” are let down by their governments and that it’s too straightforward to evaluate somebody (or a gaggle of individuals) for one thing we all know little about. Moud’s “Peak White Homosexual” boyfriend is an excellent foil for lots of reflection about tradition and household. The voices are great and I beloved using Iranian poetry and references to Persian meals. I hope extra of Abdi’s work is picked up by UK publishers as a result of this one is properly value a learn.
Solely This Stunning Second is revealed within the UK by Little Tiger on the ninth November.
Thanks for the assessment copy!
